Game apparatus



E. M. KING. 1

GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4, 1920.

' Patented Sept. 14,1920.

I awuemtoz 55500212? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD m. KING, or ELIDA, 01110. p

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patent-ed Sept. 14, 1920.

Application filed February 4, 1920. Serial No. 356,155.

adapted to create considerable amusement,

as it is the aim to employ a plurality of marbles or other like spherical elements in connection with a game board, which has an outer field, and an inner home base or pen, and also radial intermediate stalls, so that when the marbles or other spherical members (which may be called pigs) are in the outer field, it is the aim to manipulate the game board, whereby all ofthe marbles or pigs are brought to and into the pen or home base.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved, game apparatus in the form of a new article of manufacture and which may be manufactured for a relatively low cost andv sold at a reasonable profit.

The patentee is well aware that there are similar game apparatuses on the market, particularly one which is known under the trade. name of Pigsin Clover. Such game apparatus, known as Pigs in Clover consists of a base board and a plurality of annular walls rising upwardlyfrom the base, and being of decreasing diameters from the outer edge of the base board to the center, with openings in the annular walls or flanges, so that it is the aim to feed the pigs or marbles or the like from theoutermost space to the center or the clover base. In view of this particular type of game, the patentee does not make any broad claim to any such construction of game board. However, the patentee makes a particular claim to the specific construction of the present device, namely the base with an outer annular space, which may be entitled field and a central home or pen, in'combination with the radial stalls substantially U-shaped, there being openings in an inner flange (which assists in causing the formation of the annular space of groove) which openings are opposite the U-shaped stalls, so

that it will be found difficult to cause all the pigs or marbles to reach the central pen or home base, and it has been found that such a manipulation of the game apparatus will create considerable excitement and amusement.

While the design and construction at present illustrated and set forth is deemed preferable, it is obvious that as a result of a reduction of the invention to a more practical form for commercial purposes, the invention may be susceptible to changes, and the right to these changes is claimed, provided they are comprehended within the sco e of what is claimed.

he invention comprises further and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings:

features Figure 1 is aperspective view of the improved game board constructed in accord ance with the invention, showing the marbles or pigs in different positions in the act of reaching the pen,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view online 2-2 of Fig. 1, particularly showing the connections between the flanges forming the stalls and the base board,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the base board, showing how one of the pieces forming the inner annular flagge may be connected to the base board, an I Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the flanges forming the stalls, also showing how such flanges or stalls are secured to the base board.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the game apparatus showing the flanges fixed tothe base board by the turn over tangs.

Referring more especially to the drawings,1 designates a base board, which is preferably circular in form, though not necessarily, and rising upwardly from the outer edge thereof is an annular flange 2. Anannular wall or flange 3 also rises. up wardly from the base board, and is spaced inwardly ofthe flange or wall 2, thereby causing the formation of what may termed in the present case as an outer field L This inner annular wall or flange 3 comprises a plurality of arcuate, sections or segments 5 which are spaced apart at their ends, [thereby causing the formation of openings 6, 'Rising upwardly from the center of the base board is a housing or pen or home base 7, which consists of an annular wall 8 terminating in a conical top 9. The wall of the pen or home base has an opening or passageway 10. 1

Also rising upwardly from the base board is a plurality of flanges 11 which are bent upon themselves as indicated at 12 to form U-shaped stalls 13. The bent portions or arches of the flanges, constitute the closed ends of the stalls. The open ends 1 1 of the stalls are directly opposite the openings or passages 6, so that when a player is endeavoring to cause one or anotrier of the pigs or marbles to enter the openings 6, and ti en manipulating it so as to pass between the adjacent walls or flanges of two adjacent stalls, it will be very dillicult to ac complish the same, particularly in view of the fact that the pigs or marbles accidentally at various times enter the stalls, and then engage the closed end thereof. The outer ends of'the walls of the stalls may be spaced any suitable distance from the sections of the inner flange. Furthermore, the inner closed ends of the stalls may be positioned any suitabledistance from the wall of the penor home base, sullicient to permit one of the pigs or marbles to pass between the pen or home base and the closed ends of the stalls, when endeavoring to cause the pigs to enter the opening 10 of the housing.

lVhile it is the aim to construct the game apparatus, particularly the game board from any suitable sheet metal or cardboard, preferably the latter, it is to be understood that the game board may be constructed of any other suitable material, such as celluloid or the like.

In Fig. 1, it is to be seen that the game apparatus particularly the board, is con structed of any suitable cardboard, and in this case the outer and inner annular flanges are glued or otherwise adhesively connected to the base board 1, as indicated at 16.

Should the game board he made of sheet metal, such as tin or the like, the outer flange 2 of the game board rises upwardly and is integrally connected to the base board, as it is bent from the board at the time of forming the board. However, the

sections 5 of the inner annular flange or wall have their lower edges provided with the V-shaped tangs 17 which are designed to enter the openings or slots 18. The end tangs are bent in one direction, while the central tang 17 is bent in the opposite direction, thereby rigidly fastening the sections 5 of the inner annular wall or flange to the base board.

The flanges which cause the formation of the stalls have their lower edges also provided with tangs 19, which are designed to. enter theslots or openings 20 of the base board. Certain of the tangs 19 are'bent in one direction, while certain other of said .tangs are bent in the opposite direction, thereby rigidly supporting the flanges formopenings 22 of the base board. Certain of these tangs or points 21 are bent in one direction, while the others are bent in the opposite direction. In addition to connect ing the flanges and the pen to the base board by the tangs or points, they may also be additionally fastened to the baseboard by soldering or the'like, to rigidly support the flanges and the flanges of the stalls.

The game apparatus, particularly the game board may be any suitable diameter, and the flanges may be spaced any suitable distance apart.

In playing the game, it is the aim to use a plurality of marbles or other spherical elements, which may be called pigs. These marbles at the beginning of the game are located in the outer annular space or channel such the field. W hen the marbles or other spherical elements are thus arranged, it is the aim that the player should manipulate the game board, in such wise as to cause the marbles or other similar elements'to eventually reach the home base or pen or housing, and when such is accomplished, the game is won.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is 1. In a game apparatus, a game board comprising a circular piece having an outer field and provided with a central'pen, and a plurality of radial U-shaped stalls rising upwardly from the piece in the space between the outer annular field and the centrally dis- )OSGCl en said s ace between'the outer annular field and the pen being in communication with the field, the open ends of the U-shaped stalls being directly opposite the communications betweenthe outerfield and the space between said outer field and the pen. I

2. In a game apparatus, a game board comprlsing an outer field for a plurality of pigs in theform of spherical elements, a pen rising upwardly and centrally of the game board and being spaced from'the outer'field and provided with an opening, said space between the pen and the outer'field having openings of communication, U-shaped stalls rising upwardly from the game board and extending'radially and having their open ends directly opposite the openings of communication between the outer field and the space between the pen and the outer field, and the closed ends ofthe U'shaped stalls being spaced from the pen.

'3. A game'board having an outer annular flange, an inner annular flange comprising a plurality of arcuate sections spaced from the outer flanges, thereby causing to be formed an annular field for a plurality of spherical elements, a pig receiving pen rising upwardly from the center of the game board and having an opening and provided with a closed top, said game board having a space between the pig receiving pen and the inner annular flange, the sections of the inner annular flange being spaced endwise, thereby forming openings of communication between the space between the pen and the inner annular flange, and the space between the outer flange and the inner flange, radial U-shaped stalls rising upwardly from the game board between the inner annular flange and the pig receiving pen and having their opposite ends spaced from the inner annular flange and the pen, the open ends of the stalls being opposite the openings in the inner annular flange, and a plurality of spherical elements so used in connection with the game board, whereby it is the aim to manipulate the board to cause all of said spherical elements to reach the pig receiving pen, when they are first disposed in the space between the outer flange and the inner annular flange.

4:. A game board having an outer annular flange, an inner annular flange comprising a plurality of arcuate sections spaced from the outer flanges, thereby causing to be space between the outer flange and the inner flange, radial U-shaped stalls rising upwardly from the game board between the inner annular flange and the pig receiving pen and having their opposite ends spaced from the inner annular flange and the pen,

the open ends of the stalls being opposite the openings in the inner annular flange, and a plurality of spherical elements so used in connection with the game board, whereby it is the aim to manipulate the board to cause all of said spherical elements to reach the pig receiving pen, when they are first disposed in the space between the outer flange and the inner annular flange, said inner annular flange, the walls forming the stalls and the pig receiving pen having tang and slot connections with the game board.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature EDWARD M. KING.

between the pig receiving pen 

